Heading West

For a while now I’ve been preparing for the move out west.  The thought first crossed my mind when I got an interview at USC for residency way back when, but ultimately decided at that point NYC was what I wanted and cancelled the interview. Now after years of dreaming and contemplating, I’m finally doing it. I’m packing up, putting Chase in the car, and we’ll drive straight on til morning to the Promised Land called San Diego. As we get close to the day, people keep asking me what I’ll miss about Philly/NY. It may sound callous, but until very recently, I honestly didn’t consider that I’d “miss” anything so much as look forward to certain things when I come back to visit. Even with family and friends, I figured I’m moving to a place that everyone will want to visit, and between that, facetime and my visiting the East Coast a couple of times a year (and text/email/Facebook),  we wouldn’t get around to the “missing” phase. That all changed a couple of weeks ago when I had a “Sister’s Day.” Like a tear-jerker, once coffee was served, Mir and Arin caught me off guard with a gift of a necklace, well one for each of us – three inter-locking circles representing the unbreakable bond of sisters, near or far. I was wrong. I was wrong. I was wrong! Miss, miss, miss!!! Then we went on with cleaning out my jewelry box and closet, gifting all those things I’ve never worn, haven’t worn in years or won’t be needing anymore (the Michelin Man coat that’s mostly useful for walking the dog in 20-degree temps – not cute, only functional).

Top Ten List of What I look forward to Visiting In NYC and Philly

(or things I will miss)

10. Sister’s Days and Nights

9. Fast and Flat Running in Philly

8. The Philadelphia Orchestra

In the fall, on a whim, and by myself (couldn’t find a partner in crime, so I went on my own), I attended this amazing event. Impromptu Philadelphia Orchestra Concert, conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin, who wore black jeans and a fitted blue v-neck sweater. This man is doing WONDERS for classical music in Philly. The Kimmel Center was packed after just hours of an invite that went viral (twitter, Facebook and email) to this FREE pop-up event when the orchestra’s gig at Carnegie Hall was cancelled Oct. 2. Yannick turned it into a game show where he allowed the audience to decide which Mozart Overture we got to hear: Cosi Fan Tutti, Don Giovanni or Le Nozze Di Figaro. Which would you have voted for? Don Giovanni it was (I voted for Cosi!!). Then he brought up a guest conductor, who was chosen during a competition held one hour prior to showtime – Maestro Maddie, 8 years old, killed it conducting the William Tell Overture wearing sweat pants, an old t-shirt and flip flops, hair in a braid that just screamed “I’ve been climbing trees all day, and now I’m conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra!” When Yannick asked her on her podium “How are you feeling tonight Maestro Maddie?” She looked at him, her orchestra, and then her audience and replied “Awesome!” with the sweetest smile. Yannick followed it up with Bolero, a personal favorite of mine, that brought me back to the first time I heard it at Interlocken Arts Camp when I was 16 – omg. And then the finale that Yannick asked us to tweet and Facebook the hell out of! 

Thank you Yannick and the Philadelphia Orchestra, for bringing Philadelphians together for an amazing night of beautiful (and FREE) music – a few hours away from the real world, leaving us with only positive energy to tackle the rest of the week. Nothing but love for this wonderful organization.

7. Central Park

For running around the Reservoir, the Bridal Path or the Park Drives, for hanging with the girls, for drinks, for feeling like you’re in any given Woody Allen film or When Harry Met Sally, I have a love affair with this place.

6. The Fabulous Foods of Philly

Not disputable – Philadelphia is a fantastic restaurant town. If you ever need a rec here, all you have to do is ask…and prepare for a very long list.

5. Those crazy City nights.  You know what I mean.

4. The Availability of Piano Bars and Karaoke

3. Those New York Moments

2. The Phillies and Other things Philly

 

1. The Family – I will miss and can’t wait to share California with them all.

 So, I will miss the people. I’ll look forward to visits. And you will love visiting us!